Nonprofit law firm expands state’s service

Originaly By Naomi Smoot: CHARLES TOWN - Mountain Justice Inc., a Charleston-based agency, has opened a new office in Clarksburg in an attempt to better serve clients in the state’s eastern and northern counties.

The nonprofit group opened its first office in 1996, to help provide legal assistance to low-income individuals facing problems related to consumer issues, health care and other matters, said attorney Nathan Fetty. Recently though, the focus has changed, as calls flooded in from people hoping to keep their home out of foreclosure.

“The foreclosure work has really picked up since all the economic troubles have broken loose,” Fetty said. “The vast bulk of our work right now is foreclosure work. It’s 95 percent of what we do right now.”

Potential clients, especially those who believe they have fallen prey to predatory lending practices, phone in to Mountain Justice. If the agency representatives think they might be able to provide assistance, Fetty said the individuals are asked to come in for an in-person meeting.

Until now, he said that meant a five- to six-hour drive to Charleston for clients living in the eastern and northern portions of the state. Still, Fetty said clients from the area continued to show up each Thursday when Mountain State met with potential clients.

The drive placed an additional hardship on families and individuals who were already facing financial woes, he said.

“It’s a real burden for a lot of people to make that kind of trek,” he said. “It’s a long haul.”

That is why Mountain State Justice decided to open a second office. Using grant funding from the Institute for Foreclosure Legal Assistance, the agency was able to open a new office earlier this month.

Located in Clarksburg, the facility is roughly three hours from Martinsburg. Fetty said the agency leaders hope that the new office will enable the organization to better serve residents in this portion of the state, and help cut down on the drive that potential clients have to endure.

Fetty said foreclosures have become a real problem throughout much of the state. Despite reports from agencies that claim to track foreclosure statistics, the issue is hitting West Virginia in much the same way as it is is hitting other states, he said.

“It’s just been overwhelming,” he said of the problem. “It’s everywhere.”

For those who meet certain income guidelines, Mountain State Justice is there to help, free of charge.

It’s an important service for the clients who come through their doors, Fetty said.

“People in vulnerable populations get into these loans that are fraudulent and they stand to lose their homes. It’s often their biggest asset, sometimes they’re only asset,” he said.

It’s a situation that can be awful for senior citizens who have spent their entire lives working to have their home, as well as young families who are trying to keep a roof over their children’s heads, he said.

“It’s terrible for communities, it’s terrible for just everybody. A rash of foreclosures is not a good thing for any reason,” he said.

Mountain State is trying to step in and provide assistance to these individuals. It is there to fill a void for people who cannot otherwise afford such services, he said.